By Movable Refractive Structure Patents (Class 359/557)
  • Patent number: 8040614
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a zoom lens including a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, a fourth lens group, and a fifth lens group. The zoom lens satisfies following conditional expressions (1) and (2), 0.03<H1?/f1<0.3??(1) 0.3<|f2|/?(fw·ft)<0.65??(2) where H1? is an interval from a vertex of a surface nearest to the image side in the first lens group to a principal point on the image side of the first lens group (? denotes the object side, and + denotes the image side), f1 is focal length of the first lens group, f2 is focal length of the second lens group, fw is focal length of an entire lens system at a wide-angle end, and ft is the focal length of the entire lens system at a telephoto end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiko Matsunaga, Koji Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20110249336
    Abstract: An image stabilizer includes: an optical system movable in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis (“orthogonal plane”) and correcting image blur; a movable member holding the optical system and movable relative to a fixed member in an orthogonal plane; a guide guiding the movable member while preventing from rotating in an orthogonal plane; three first balls rollably interposed between the fixed and guide members; two second balls rollably interposed between the guide and movable members; one third ball rollably interposed between the fixed and movable members; a biasing unit biasing the movable member toward the fixed member; and a drive unit driving the movable member relative to the fixed member in two directions perpendicular to the optical axis, wherein in an orthogonal plane, two of the first balls are rollable only in first direction; the second balls are rollable only in second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki SATO
  • Publication number: 20110242660
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing vibration compensation using position measurements are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of compensating for vibrations of an object includes obtaining a plurality of position measurements associated with the object. The method also includes processing the plurality of position measurements to determine a derivative acceleration, and determining a compensatory force to counteract the vibrations of the object. Determining the compensatory force includes using the derivative acceleration. Finally, the method includes applying the compensatory force to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Yi-Ping Hsin, Susumu Isago, Kazuo Masaki, Bausan Yuan
  • Patent number: 8031411
    Abstract: A telephoto zoom lens having four lens groups in a P-N-P-P configuration arranged sequentially from an object side. The first lens group includes a front group which is fixed when focusing and has a positive refractive power, and a rear group which moves when focusing and has a positive refractive power. The entire first lens group, including the front and rear groups, is fixed during zooming, and the second and third lens groups move during zooming. The second lens group compensates for shaking of an image plane caused by hand-shaking, by moving in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and satisfies the following condition: 1.2<f1a/f1b<1.8 where f1a and f1b denote the focal length of the front group of the first lens group and the focal length of the rear group of the first lens group, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-myung Ryu
  • Patent number: 8027578
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a shake detection unit to detect shaking applied to a camera; an image blur correction driving unit for driving a lens and correcting image blur caused by the shaking; and a selection unit configured to select whether correction of image blur is to be permitted or inhibited. If image blur correction is permitted, the image blur correction driving unit operates in accordance with a first driving characteristic. If image blur correction is inhibited, the image blur correction driving unit holds the lens near an optical axis in accordance with a second driving characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Imada
  • Publication number: 20110228394
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a magnification-varying lens unit moving in an optical axis direction; a movable optical unit arranged in an object side of the magnification-varying lens unit; and a controller for moving the optical unit and the zoom lens displacing an image. A movable range of the optical unit is larger at a wide angle end than at a telephoto end. The zoom lens further includes a position detecting unit for detecting a relative position of the magnification-varying lens unit; and a position computing unit for computing a position of the magnification-varying lens unit. It is driven to a reference position immediately after power-on, then its position stored in the position computing unit is initialized to the reference position, then it is driven to a position at power-on, and then the movable range of the optical unit is set so as to correspond to the position of the magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi KUBO
  • Patent number: 8023812
    Abstract: A position controller includes a movable member which holds the optical element and supported by a support member to be linearly movable from an anti-shake driving range in which the optical element is positioned on an optical axis to a removed position outside of the anti-shake driving range, an electromagnetic actuator including first and second coils supported by the support member and first and second magnets supported by the movable member, and an insertion/removal operational member. When the movable member is in the anti-shake driving range, the first and second magnets face the first and second coils, respectively. The first and second magnets are arranged on opposite sides of a removing-direction center line passing through a center of the optical element in a moving direction of the movable member so that a distance between magnetic-pole boundary lines of the first and second magnets increases toward the anti-shake driving position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Suzuka
  • Patent number: 8019210
    Abstract: There is provided an image stabilizing unit 1 small in size in one direction perpendicular to an optical axis, including, on a base member 2, a movable compensation member 5 which can displace an image forming position by moving in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis Z, and two drive units 6, 7 for displacing the movable compensation member 5 in the directions of R and S which are different from each other for 90 degrees, wherein the directions in which the drive units 6, 7 respectively move the movable compensation member 5 are inclined 45 degrees to a direction X which connects the drive units 6, 7 and the optical axis center Z of the movable compensation member 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Uno, Hiroshi Mashima, Tsutomu Honda
  • Patent number: 8019209
    Abstract: An optical axis correction apparatus of an imaging device, the imaging device including an imaging optical system having a plurality of optical elements, and an optical element position changing device which changes a relative position among the optical elements to vary a state of an object image formed thereby, the optical axis correction apparatus including an optical element moving device which moves at least one of the optical elements in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; a memory which stores data relating to a deviation of the object image position in directions orthogonal to the optical axis, the deviation occurring when the optical element position changing device changes the relative position among the optical elements; and an object image position correction controller which drives the optical element moving device based on the data stored in the memory to correct said deviation of the object image position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Shinichi Kakiuchi
  • Publication number: 20110216413
    Abstract: The optical image stabilizer includes a shift member holding an image stabilizing element and being movable with respect to a center axis, a lock member disposed around the shift member and rotatable about the center axis between a lock position to limit movement of the shift member and an unlock position to release the limit of the movement of the shift member, and a base member including a supporting portion to rotatably support the lock member. The shift member includes protrusions at its plural circumferential places. The lock member includes, in its inner circumferential part, locking portions to receive contact of the protrusions at the lock position so as to limit the movement of the shift member. The supporting portion is formed so as to include plural openings allowing contact of the protrusions with the lock portions and so as to support the inner circumferential part of the lock member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromu YASUDA
  • Patent number: 8014657
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes a third optical group arranged between a second optical group and an iris, and to stabilize hand tremor, and the third optical group is moved along a sphere that has a center based on a predetermined point on an optical axis. As a result, a photographing apparatus has an efficient hand tremor stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8009972
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus and imaging lens device comprises a light path folding optical system having a reflector that folds the optical axis incident perpendicular to the gravitational direction toward the gravitational direction. An imaging element converts an image formed by the light path folding optical system into an electrical signal. A drive unit moves a shake correction lens group including at least one lens in the direction perpendicular to a vertical optical axis, the vertical optical axis being folded toward the gravitational direction by the reflector, wherein the shake correction lens group is moved in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis to move the image in the direction perpendicular to the vertical optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Kuroda, Yoshito Iwasawa, Makoto Kanai
  • Patent number: 7995284
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fifth lens group having a positive or negative refracting power; the first, second, third, fourth and fifth lenses being disposed in order from the object side to the image side of the zoom lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takumi Matsui
  • Publication number: 20110188840
    Abstract: A lens barrel and a photographing apparatus comprising the lens barrel include: a lens module that comprises at least one lens and moves along an optical axis of the at least one lens; a shake correction module arranged near the lens module; at least one fixing member that is disposed between the lens module and the shake correction module and fixes the shake correction module in response to being pressed by the lens module; a frame on which the at least one fixing member is installed; and at least one elastic member that elastically mounts the at least one fixing member on the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-jae Hwang, Kwang-seok Byon, Jung-soo Kim, Chi-young Park
  • Publication number: 20110188117
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide an anti-vibration zoom lens optics designed to bring about capabilities of reducing an effective aperture of one of lens groups displaceable for anti-vibration compensation to permit downsizing of anti-vibration mechanism, and of avoiding complicating the lens mechanism by virtue of the optics design simply of four of the lens groups where a unit associated with an aperture stop and an anti-vibration unit can be appropriately spaced apart from each other without interference between driving mechanisms for both the units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Akio Arakawa, Lai Wei
  • Patent number: 7991277
    Abstract: A camera module includes a circuit board, an image sensor mounted on the circuit board, a lens module including a lens, a position sensor, a plurality of electrical wire groups mounted on the lens, and a plurality of magnetic field generators. The lens held a distance from the circuit board by holding wires fixed on the circuit board. The position sensor is mounted on the circuit board and configured for detecting displacements of the lens module and the image sensor relative to the object. The magnetic field generators are arranged adjacent to the respective electrical wire groups, and each configured for generating a magnetic field for allowing the electrical wire groups together with the lens to move to give a correction of the displacements of the lens, such that an image of an object is projected at a predetermined region of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chau-Yuan Ke
  • Patent number: 7990623
    Abstract: An object is to reduce the effect of defocusing due to the movement of an image plane when a shifting lens group movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis for correcting hand jiggling is positionally deviated along the optical axis, thereby maintaining high optical performance at the time of correcting hand jiggling. A zoom lens 1 includes a plurality of lens groups with distances between the lens groups being changed for variable power. A final lens group L5 which is positioned most closely to an image side has a sub lens group GS (G8) having a positive refractive power and a sub lens group GR (G9) disposed adjacent to the sub lens group GS (G8) on the image side and having a positive refractive power. The sub lens group GS is shiftable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis for correcting image blurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Hatakeyama, Daisuke Kuroda, Motoyuki Otake, Yoshito Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 7991278
    Abstract: A camera module includes a voice coil motor comprising a fixing assembly, a movable assembly, an elastic member connecting the movable assembly to the fixing assembly, and a pivoting member located between the fixing assembly and the movable assembly; a lens assembly and an image sensor received in the movable assembly; a plurality of Hall sensors capable of detecting movement distances of the movable assembly; and a control module comprising a current distributor, and a processor electrically connected to the Hall sensors. Wherein when shaking occurs, the housing is driven to move along the central axis and at the same time is rotated a desired angles pivoting on the pivoting member, the processor configured for calculating rotated angles of the movable assembly base on movement distances of the movable assembly relative to the respective Hall sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Fan Chiang
  • Publication number: 20110181636
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes: a projection system which projects an image; a vibration detecting unit which detects vibration given to the main body of the apparatus; an installation condition determining unit which determines the installation condition of the main body of the apparatus; and an image blur preventive control unit which performs image blur preventive control for preventing blurring of the image caused by the vibration detected by the vibration detecting unit based on the vibration, wherein the image blur preventive control unit performs the image blur preventive control in accordance with the installation condition determined by the installation condition determining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporaton
    Inventor: Osamu Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 7986458
    Abstract: A zoom lens and an image pickup apparatus are disclosed. The zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group having a positive refractive power. The fifth lens group includes a fixed group having a negative refractive power, and a movable group having a positive refractive power and being movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. The image formed on an image surface is movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis by moving the movable group of the fifth lens group in the direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. The fifth lens group is satisfied predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Toyoda
  • Patent number: 7986873
    Abstract: An optical unit with shake correcting function may include a movable module on which at least an optical element is mounted, a fixed body which supports the movable module, a shake detection sensor which detects a shake of the movable module, a drive mechanism for shake correction for swinging the movable module on the fixed body on the basis of a detection result of the shake detection sensor to correct the shake of the movable module, and a control section which controls the drive mechanism for shake correction on the basis of the detection result of the shake detection sensor. The shake detection sensor is a gyroscope mounted on the movable module and the control section controls the drive mechanism for shake correction so as to cancel the shake detected by the gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Hisahiro Ishihara, Toshiyuki Karasawa, Shinji Minamisawa, Yuichi Takei, Tadashi Takeda, Katsushige Yanagisawa, Akihiro Nagata, Kiyoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7983544
    Abstract: A shake correction unit includes: a base member; a first movable member that moves relative to the base member in a first direction; a second movable member to which an imaging device is fixed, the second movable member moving relative to the first movable member in a second direction; a first drive unit provided between the base member and the first movable member, the first drive unit moving the base member and the first movable member relative to each other in the first direction; and a second drive unit provided between the first movable member and the second movable member, the second drive unit moving the first movable member and the second movable member relative to each other in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Yoneoka, Atsuomi Ohno
  • Patent number: 7983546
    Abstract: The optical image stabilizer (100) includes a first movable part including a first lens (11a) having one of positive and negative optical powers, a second movable part including a second lens (11b) having the other of the optical powers, and an actuator driving the first and second movable parts in the directions opposite to each other with respect to a supporting member (13). The actuator includes a first element (110a, 110b) provided on the supporting member, a second element (16a, 16b) provided on the first movable part and facing a first face of the first element, and a third element (16c, 16d) provided on the second movable part and facing a second face formed on an opposite side of the first element from the first face. The first element is one of a magnet and a coil, and the second element and the third element are the other of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Washisu
  • Patent number: 7983545
    Abstract: An image blur correction unit includes the following elements. A holder member, holding either an imager or a lens that constitutes a part of a lens system, moves in a straight line on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens system. A movable member, attached to a frame that serves as an outermost component, supports the holder member. A guide member guides movement of the holder member relative to the frame. A driving section drives the holder member. The guide member includes a guide shaft fixed to the movable member and support portions provided for the frame, the support portions supporting the guide shaft. The movable member moves relative to the frame while being integrated with the guide shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ippei Maeda, Tatsuyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7982967
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a rear group including at least one lens unit. For zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit moves to the object side, the second lens unit moves to the image side, and the third lens unit moves to the object side. Moving amounts of the first lens unit, the second lens unit, and the third lens unit for zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end and focal lengths of the second lens unit and the third lens unit are set based on predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyokatsu Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 7974012
    Abstract: A zoom lens system has a front lens group and a rear lens group along the optical axis and in order from the object side. The rear lens group has a first lens unit having a positive refracting power, a second lens unit having a negative refracting power, and a third lens unit having a positive refracting power. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a space between the front lens group and the first lens unit varies, a space between the first lens unit and the second lens unit increases, and a space between the second lens unit and the third lens unit decreases. At least a part of the second lens unit is movable so as to have a component in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7974009
    Abstract: An image fluctuation correcting apparatus rotates a first rotary apex angle prism held in a first prism holding member around a first shaft in a direction for canceling an amount of horizontal fluctuation by electromagnetic force generated between a first drive coil and a first magnet by flowing electric current in the first drive coil. Also, the image fluctuation correcting apparatus rotates a second rotary apex angle prism held in a second prism holding member around a second shaft, which is located 180-degree angle away from the first shaft, in a direction for canceling an amount of vertical fluctuation by electromagnetic force generated between a second drive coil and a second magnet by flowing electric current in the second drive coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventors: Hisanori Tsubaki, Tomohiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110158618
    Abstract: An optical apparatus capable of detecting an attitude of the apparatus in a state where no interference occurs between apparatus components, thereby preventing an error in the attitude detection. A shift lens drive controller of the optical apparatus detects a shake applied to the apparatus, calculates a movement target position of the shift lens based on a result of the detection, detects an actual position of the shift lens, and performs feedback control such that the actual position of the shift lens is converged to the movement target position. An attitude detector detects the attitude of the optical apparatus by using feedback control information, and an interference prevention controller prevents interference between the shift lens and other members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshio Ibi
  • Publication number: 20110158616
    Abstract: An exemplary image stabilization system includes a fixed body having a first receiving cavity therein, a movable unit received in the first receiving cavity, a pivot member located between the fixed body and the movable unit, a motion sensor, a driving module, and a U-shaped magnetic shield. The pivot member is engagingly received in and between the fixed body and the movable unit. The motion sensor is disposed on the fixed body for detecting a movement of the image stabilization system. The driving module is configured for driving the movable unit to rotate around the pivot member to compensate a movement of the image stabilization system based on the motion detection result of the motion sensor. The U-shaped magnetic shield includes a first plate, a second plate, and a connecting plate between the first and second plates. The first vertical is securely mounted on the movable unit. The second plate is located on an opposite side of the first plate to the fixed barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHUN-FAN CHIANG
  • Publication number: 20110158619
    Abstract: Provided is a lens apparatus supported by a support member, including: a correction lens for correcting an image blur; a correction lens driving portion for driving the correction lens; a vibration detection portion for detecting vibration of the lens apparatus; and a driving signal calculation unit for calculating a driving signal used for driving the correction lens, in which the driving signal calculation unit includes: a detected vibration calculation portion for calculating a vibration signal based on an output from the vibration detection portion; a panning/tilting component calculation portion for calculating a pan/tilt operation signal based on pan/tilt operation information input from the support member; and a subtraction portion for subtracting the pan/tilt operation signal from the vibration signal, and in which the correction lens driving portion drives the correction lens based on an output from the subtraction portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaomi Kanayama
  • Publication number: 20110150442
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, an apparatus comprises a printed wiring board. The printed wiring board comprising a coil and being coupled to an image sensor. The coil, using the magnetic circuitry, is designed to tilt the printed wiring board and automatic focus optomechanics, the automatic focus optomechanics being attached to the printed wiring board over a gimbal pivot system to operate an optical imaging stabilizing system. A second coil is designed to interact with the magnetic circuitry to move the lens barrel at least one of closer and farther from the image sensor to perform an automatic focus. An apparatus comprises a lens barrel comprising at least four coils. The at least four coils each configured to interact with respective magnet circuitry. The at least four coils and respective magnetic circuitry capable designed to tilt the lens barrel in such a manner as to correct an imbalance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikko Antti Ollila, Marko Juhani Eromaki
  • Patent number: 7965931
    Abstract: A system and method of correcting a light pathway is provided. A system for correcting a light pathway, the system including: a light pathway change amount measurement unit to measure a light pathway change amount using a movement amount of an image when a light pathway of incident light is changed due to shaking of a camera; and a curved prism driving unit to drive a curved prism, composed of a refraction surface, based on a light pathway correction amount determined by the light pathway change amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo Jong Cho, Sung Mun Cho, Seong Deok Lee
  • Patent number: 7965454
    Abstract: There are provided an imaging lens, which is capable of promoting high definition and miniaturization of a small-size image pickup apparatus, and the small-size image pickup apparatus using the same. A aperture diaphragm S is arranged between a first lens L1 and a second lens L2 so that the first lens L1 is configured to be displaced into the orthogonal direction to the optical axis. Even when an error sensitivity of a lens is large, a stable high resolution can be secured by performing a lens alignment by displacing the first lens L1 into the orthogonal direction to the optical axis at the time of assembling, and thereby a high definition image can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tanaka, Masashi Isono
  • Publication number: 20110141566
    Abstract: A position controller for an optical element of an optical system includes a first movable member supported by a support member to be movable relative thereto in a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis, a second movable member which holds the optical element and is supported by the first movable member to be movable relative thereto in a second direction which is nonparallel to the first direction, an electromagnetic actuator that produces a driving force for moving at least the second movable member in the second direction, and an insertion/removal drive mechanism for moving the second movable member between an anti-shake driving position, at which a position control for the second movable member can be performed using the electromagnetic actuator, and a removed position at which the second movable member is positioned outside a range of the position control that uses the electromagnetic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya SUZUKA
  • Publication number: 20110141565
    Abstract: A position controller includes a movable member which holds the optical element and supported by a support member to be linearly movable from an anti-shake driving range in which the optical element is positioned on an optical axis to a removed position outside of the anti-shake driving range, an electromagnetic actuator including first and second coils supported by the support member and first and second magnets supported by the movable member, and an insertion/removal operational member. When the movable member is in the anti-shake driving range, the first and second magnets face the first and second coils, respectively. The first and second magnets are arranged on opposite sides of a removing-direction center line passing through a center of the optical element in a moving direction of the movable member so that a distance between magnetic-pole boundary lines of the first and second magnets increases toward the anti-shake driving position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya SUZUKA
  • Publication number: 20110141564
    Abstract: A lens actuator includes a cylindrical carrier having a hollow for accommodating a lens, the hollow being formed in a first direction; a driving yoke for housing the carrier; a base for holding the yoke thereon; a driving magnet and a driving coil, which are fixed either to the outer periphery of the carrier or the driving yoke; a moving magnet fixed to the driving yoke; and a moving coil fixed to the base. The carrier is movable with respect to the driving yoke in the first direction, and the driving yoke is movable with respect to the base in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The driving magnet and the driving coil face each other in the second direction, and the moving magnet and the moving coil face each other in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Norifumi Sata, Hidekazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7961412
    Abstract: An actuator apparatus of the present invention includes a movable body that is arranged so as to be movable forward or rearward, and a shape memory alloy wire that is provided directly or indirectly to the movable body so as to enter a non-tension state at an ordinary temperature. The shape memory alloy wire is subjected to expansion/contraction control in which an electric current is applied thereto from a power supply portion of an external control circuit portion to change a temperature thereof to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Seiji Iwasaki, Toru Kuchimaru, Yuuya Ishida, Seiji Sakai
  • Patent number: 7962023
    Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a rotor including a lens assembly, and configured to move perpendicular to an optical axis of light passing through the lens assembly, and a suspension unit configured to support movement of the rotor and to prevent the rotor from moving non-perpendicular to the optical axis of the light passing through the lens assembly. Accordingly, the image stabilizer prevents variance of characteristics of a rotor in a low frequency band according to the position and distortion of phase characteristics in a high frequency band. Therefore, the image stabilizer has consistent operation characteristics regardless of the position, posture, and movement of a person using an image capture device containing the image stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jin-won Lee, Chong-sam Chung, Min-jae Lee, Sung-hyun Kim, Hae-in Chung
  • Publication number: 20110134529
    Abstract: In a zoom lens having a plurality of lens groups which are disposed in that order from an object, a first lens group that is disposed to closest to the object among the plurality of lens groups has positive refractive power and comprises a light path bending element which bends the path of light and a plurality of lens components which are disposed closer to the object than the light path bending element; and, where the distance on the optical axis from the surface closest to the object in the first lens group to the surface closest to the object in the light path bending element is L1 and the distance on the optical axis of the light path bending element is Lp, the conditional expression L1/Lp<1.0 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: TOSHINORI TAKE
  • Publication number: 20110122495
    Abstract: An imaging lens that focuses light from a subject on an imaging surface, a lens holder that holds the imaging lens, a holder that holds the lens holder so as to be capable of moving along the optical axis of the imaging lens and capable of rotating in a tilting direction with respect to the optical axis, magnets and coils that independently cause drive forces to act in the direction along the optical axis with respect to the lens holder at at least three locations of the periphery of the lens holder, a Hall element that detects the attitude of the lens holder with respect to the optical axis, and a control apparatus that controls the magnitude and direction of the drive force of each coil in accordance with the detection output of the Hall element. In accordance with the present invention, in the cladding lens unit, it is possible to perform a movement in an optical axis direction of the imaging lens and a tilt movement with respect to the optical axis with a simple constitution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG YOKOHAMA RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Togashi
  • Patent number: 7948686
    Abstract: A zoom lens comprises, from object to image side: a positive first-lens unit; a negative second-lens unit; a positive third-lens unit; and a positive fourth-lens unit; the third-lens unit comprising a negative 3a?th-lens sub-unit and positive 3b?th-lens sub-unit from object side; the second-lens unit and fourth-lens unit moving on the optical axis during zooming; the 3b?th-lens sub-unit moving in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby displacing an image perpendicular to the optical axis; the 3a?th-lens sub-unit comprising a negative-lens element G3an whose both surfaces are spherical, and a positive-lens element whose both surfaces are spherical; the 3b?th-lens sub-unit including a positive-lens element G3bp including an aspherical lens surface, and a negative-lens element; wherein, assuming that the indices of the materials of the negative-lens element G3an and the positive-lens element G3bp are NG3an and NG3bp respectively, 0.21<NG3an?NG3bp is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Hoshi
  • Publication number: 20110109787
    Abstract: A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having negative optical power, a second lens unit having positive optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein in zooming, the intervals between the respective lens units vary, the third lens unit comprises a plurality of lens elements, and the condition (I-1): 0.47<|f31/fG3|<1.00 (fT/fW>2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoko Iiyama, Keiki Yoshitsugu
  • Publication number: 20110103782
    Abstract: Provided is a photographing optical device, which is able to reliably correct an unintentional movement by hand of a user by improving the constitution of a camera unit driving mechanism for correcting the deflection of a camera unit. In order that a camera unit is made to be rocked to correct the unintentional movement, a photographing optical device includes a first camera unit drive mechanism and a second camera unit drive mechanism, which are so disposed at two side portions sandwiching a pivot portion therebetween as to make a pair. In these camera unit drive mechanisms, camera unit driving magnets are held on the side of the camera unit as a movable body side, and camera unit driving coils are held on the side of a stationary body. The camera unit is pushed toward the pivot portion by a gimbal spring, which is provided with a plurality of arm portions extending mutually in the same circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi TSURUTA, Kiyoshi MIYAZAKI, Tadashi TAKEDA, Hisahiro ISHIHARA, Katsushige YANAGISAWA, Toshiyuki KARASAWA, Yuichi TAKEI, Akihiro NAGATA, Shinji MINAMISAWA
  • Publication number: 20110103783
    Abstract: There is provided an image blur correction device including: a correction optical element; a first movable frame; a second movable frame; a fixed frame; a first main guide shaft and a first auxiliary guide shaft; a second main guide shaft and a second auxiliary guide shaft; a first driving part; and a second driving part. The first auxiliary guide shaft is shorter than the first main guide shaft and the second driving part is placed between the first auxiliary guide shaft and the correction optical element. The second auxiliary guide shaft is shorter than the second main guide shaft and the first driving part is placed between the second auxiliary guide shaft and the correction optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Tsutsumi, Yutaka Maeda
  • Patent number: 7924513
    Abstract: There is provided a lens barrel including: a rear barrel to which an imaging device is attachable, an imaging optical system leading a subject image to the imaging device, and an image blur correcting unit moving a shift lens forming the imaging optical system in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging optical system. The image blur correcting unit includes a base supporting the shift lens in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging optical system. The lens barrel includes a support mechanism supporting the base to be movable relative to the rear barrel along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; and a fixing device fixing the base to the rear barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Iwai, Konoha Takeuchi, Akira Kagaya, Takatoshi Ohzeki, Ken Tanaka, Norihisa Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7920780
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus includes a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a supporting unit configured to support the first lens unit and the second lens unit, a driving unit configured to drive at least one of the first lens unit and the second lens unit in the direction perpendicular to an optical axis, a shake detection unit configured to detect a shake added to the image stabilization apparatus, a shake correction unit configured to supply a drive signal to the driving unit to correct the detected shake, and a connecting unit configured to mechanically connect the first lens unit and the second lens unit, wherein the connecting unit is configured to enable the first lens unit and the second lens unit to move in mutually opposite directions on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Saito
  • Patent number: 7920327
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: at least one or more vertically movable lens groups among at least three or more lens groups, which constitute a zoom lens, movable in an optical axis direction, the vertically movable lens group being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis; a zoom lens group among the three or more lens groups, the zoom lens group being movable in the optical axis direction; and a correction mechanism that corrects a position of the optical axis based on the three or more lens groups by moving the vertically movable lens group in a wide-angle end state to a predetermined position in the substantially perpendicular direction. When the vertically movable lens group is moved for the purpose of anti-vibration at each zoom position in the substantially perpendicular direction, the apparatus is configured to satisfy the following Conditional Expression (1). 0.7<(Lw+Bw)/Bt<1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohata, Daisuke Kuroda, Masayuki Murata
  • Publication number: 20110075999
    Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a stationary member defining a first receiving space and a first central axis, a moveable member received in the first receiving space and spaced from the stationary member, a driving assembly including a first magnetic member fixed to the stationary member and a second magnetic member fixed to the moveable member, a resilient assembly interconnecting the stationary member and the moveable member, and a gyro. The moveable member defines a second central axis coinciding with the first central axis. The first magnetic member faces the second magnetic member. The driving assembly drives the moveable member to rotate about a first axis and a second axis relative to the stationary member through magnetic interaction between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member. The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis; the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to the first central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHI-WEI CHIU
  • Patent number: 7912362
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical image stabilizing apparatus for a micro-camera module capable of effectively stabilizing an image of the camera module and implementing miniaturization of the camera module by supplying an “L”-shaped biaxial guide structure to prevent a tilt in a Y axial direction while moving an automatic focusing unit of the camera module in a horizontal X axial direction and to prevent a tilt in an X axial direction while moving the automatic focusing unit of the camera module in a horizontal Y axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo Cheol Lim, Jae Ho Moon, Ho Seop Jeong, Jae Hyuk Park
  • Patent number: 7911697
    Abstract: A lens includes a front group including a plurality of lens groups; and a rear group that is provided on an image side of the front group and that includes a negative lens and a positive lens. The positive lens has a flat lens surface on its image side, and is tiltable about a spherical center of its object side lens surface that is convex on the object side. When a lens system is inclined, the positive lens is tilted in relation to the optical axis of the lens system based on: a focal length of the overall lens system; an angle of the optical axis of the lens system after being inclined in relation to the optical axis before being inclined; a distance between the image side lens surface of the positive lens and the image plane; and a refractive index of the positive lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Ohtake, Ken Tanaka, Tsutomu Naitou, Takuya Tsutsumi, Eiji Yano, Tatsuyuki Takahashi